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Children's health

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Original poster

White eye in photo - talk some sense into me please because I am in a state!

47 replies

spiderlight · 02/02/2011 22:48

I took loads of flash photos this afternoon of DS (nearly 4) playing with my friend. In one of them, the pupil of his right eye is white, while the other eye has normal red-eye. I've spent the past two hours completely freaking out, reading what feels like hundreds of web pages about retinoblastoma. BUT in the other dozen or so photos from today, including several from roughly the same angle, he has normal red-eye in both eyes. I've been through literally every photo of him we've taken in the past three months or so, plus all the ones his gran took at Christmas, and all the flash ones have normal red-eye on both sides. That probably means that the one white-eye one is just a trick of the light/angle of the flash, doesn't it...? We're going to take some more photos first thing tomorrow and speak to our optician, but I know I'm not going to sleep a wink tonight :(

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

winnybella · 02/02/2011 22:50

I would think it was just the light/flash thing if all the others are fine.

PonceyMcPonce · 02/02/2011 22:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Heroine · 02/02/2011 22:55

at least have you put on pc and zoomed right in to see if it might be a reflection?

Original poster

spiderlight · 02/02/2011 23:01

Just done that now and it does look like lens flare/reflection, but I've totally freaked myself out with excessive Googling.

OP posts:

mjloveswineoclock · 02/02/2011 23:05

This reply has been deleted

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hester · 02/02/2011 23:08

You are right to get it checked out, just to be sure. But remember that retinoblastoma is really, really rare.

I would be freaked too. But try not to worry. Good luck.

Original poster

spiderlight · 02/02/2011 23:08

If I upload it could you have a look and see if you think it's just flash please?

OP posts:

PixieOnaLeaf · 02/02/2011 23:12

This reply has been deleted

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softglowsandmaybes · 02/02/2011 23:13

I dont think anyone could really tell from an upload spider, afaik i think a one off picture is nothing to worry about and i think i have read on here too that it is less of a worry when the person isn't looking directly at the camera.

Very worrying for you i know, i would be climbinb the walls as i suffer from health anxiety - bloody fucking google has a lot to answer for.

BUT its as well to get these thigns checked out, so see your optician tomorrow and put your mind at rest.

blackletterday · 02/02/2011 23:14

Ds2 had this, was checked out and is fine. Retinoblastoma is very very rare like hester says. Get it checked but honestly he is likely to be fine. I think since the advent of digital cameras we take so many more photos that this has become more common.

If it's only one photo that is reassuring. Ds2's was in loads of photos eek,I was beside myself that weekend.

winnybella · 02/02/2011 23:16

Yes, do.

winnybella · 02/02/2011 23:18

DP is a photographer/cameraman. He says he should be able to tell.

Original poster

spiderlight · 02/02/2011 23:18

Thank you
pic - hope that works

OP posts:

chipmonkey · 02/02/2011 23:18

Spiderlight, I am an optometrist and have had several children brought to me with a "white" pupil in a photograph. So far, not one of them has had retinoblastoma. So don't panic.
DO get it checked out as soon as possible as it is very important to rule it out. You can upload a photo but to be honest, I wouldn't try to guess from a photo. I prefer an ophthalmoscope myself!

winnybella · 02/02/2011 23:19

It's not the photo that's on your profile now, is it?

Original poster

spiderlight · 02/02/2011 23:20

No, sorry - it's here - i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb72/dogologist/white_eye.jpg

Thanks Chipmonkey - that helps!

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Knackeredmother · 02/02/2011 23:21

Happened to my dd in about 10 pictures. I am medical and freaked, showed my gp colleagues who also freaked. It was a very convincing picture. Saw a paediatric opthalmologist who agreed it looked bad but it was simply the angle of the flash reflecting the optic nerve.
I totally sympathise with your panic and I was a wreck but it will almost certaintly be fine.

Knackeredmother · 02/02/2011 23:23

Meant to say you must get it checked though

Original poster

spiderlight · 02/02/2011 23:23

Will definitely get it checked!

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Knackeredmother · 02/02/2011 23:27

Okay I've looked at your picture and you can virtually see the disc and the angle of the eye pointing towards the nose means that this is almost certaintly a reflection of the disc.
However, I stress that this is my personal opinion from a picture, not a medical diagnosis and you must must still get it looked at, preferably by an ophthalmologist.
But I hope this helps you get some sleep tonight.

winnybella · 02/02/2011 23:28

DP says that it looks quite peculiar ie it reflects (bounces back) the light a lot. It could be that a very bright flash is causing it or it may be what Knackeredmother says, but do get it checked out.

Original poster

spiderlight · 02/02/2011 23:29

Thank you. I'll be on the phone first thing tomorrow getting him an appointment (GP initially, or optician?) but I'm much happier now and will stop Googling.

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winnybella · 02/02/2011 23:33

I would go with ophtalmo if you can-or do you need a referral?

Original poster

spiderlight · 02/02/2011 23:38

Not sure. I've got to be literally next door to our optician first thing tomorrow morning to pick up a prescription, so I'll call in and see if she can see him quickly and advise as to what to do next. He had an eye test at the end of August (orthoptics - I had a lazy eye as a child so they've been seeing him 6-monthly since he was about 8 months old, althiough they've discharged him now).

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Knackeredmother · 02/02/2011 23:39

You need a referral to an ophthalmologist but gp guidelines are same day referral. Or you could go to eye casualty. I couldn't see an ophthalmologist for 2 days ( it was a weekend) so first went to an optician just to put my mind at rest.
Fwiw my dd pic looked far worse, I hope everything is ok.

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